I’ve battle back before: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke is drawing on his ability to conquer past struggles with the bat as he seeks to find form in the fourth Ashes Test.

Clarke struggled to make an impact in the opening three Tests of the series, declaring last week that his personal woes left Australia playing with 10 men at Edgbaston.

Clarke admitted on the eve of the Trent Bridge clash, which starts on Thursday, that the end of his Test career will come sooner rather than later.

However, the captain has no intention to retire after the five-Test series and is adamant the runs will come soon.

Why?

The 34-year-old pointed to the way he came out of previous troughs in what has been a stellar Test career since 2004.

The most recent example was in South Africa last year, when Clarke failed to pass 25 in 11 Test innings before making a stoic century in the series decider at Cape Town.

“I’ve had this (scrutiny) a number of times throughout my career,” Clarke said on Wednesday.

“It’s not new to me.

“That’s what playing sport at the highest level is about, it’s the rollercoaster ride. The highs and lows, being able to pick yourself up when things don’t go to plan and find a way to get through that.

“I’ve still got that love, desire and passion.”

Clarke also highlighted a work ethic that allowed him to make a prompt recovery from hamstring surgery and play this year’s World Cup.

“I proved to a lot of people at the World Cup after just about everyone said I wouldn’t get back for that, I wouldn’t be fit that I was willing to do the work,” he said.

Clarke top-scored for Australia with 74 in the final, but the best he’s managed for the Test side since was 47 against West Indies in June.

Clarke, who scored an emotional century in Adelaide before undergoing hamstring surgery last December, still has some time on his side before he matches the mark of former skipper Mark Taylor.

Taylor went without a half-century for 21 consecutive innings in 1997/98.

Meanwhile, Australia are set to name an unchanged pace attack as they seek to square the series in Nottingham.

Shaun Marsh, who has scored centuries against Kent and Derbyshire on tour, could be recalled at the expense of Adam Voges or brother Mitch Marsh.

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